BOLTON EVENING NEWS

Aviator to recreate famous Atlantic flight By: Angela Kelly

WHEN record-setting American aviator Steve Fossett sets off to recreate the famous 1919 Trans-Atlantic flight of Alcock and Brown next month, no-one will be more interested than a Bolton family.

For Winston Neville Alcock, of Red Lane, Breightmet, is the nephew of the famous Capt John Alcock, who, with Lieutenant Arthur Whitten-Brown, performed the then amazing feat of flying from Newfoundland in Canada to County Galway in Ireland in 15 hours and 57 minutes.

And following the flight on the internet will be the flyer's great-nephew, Tony Alcock, of Tottington Road, Harwood, who has been researching his relative's life and achievements with growing fascination.

Both former officers, Capt John William Alcock and Lieutenant Arthur Whitten-Brown came from Manchester and had already distinguished themselves with war service when they turned their attentions to a fresh challenge.

Press baron Lord Northcliffe offered £10,000 to anyone who could cross the Atlantic Ocean "from any point in the United States, Canada or Newfoundland, to any point in Great Britain or Ireland - or vice-versa - in 72 continuous hours."

At this time, when distance flying was still in its infancy, there were prizes for major achievements and few believed the continuous Trans-Atlantic air crossing could be made.

But, on June 14, 1919, Alcock and Whitten-Brown climbed into the cramped open cockpit of their two-engined, steel, plywood and canvas Vickers Vimy bomber prepared to set off from an improvised flying field in Newfoundland.

It took a 400-yard run-up, but the flimsy looking plane finally took off, tackling bumpy air-pockets which made climbing to altitude difficult. Soon, they had climbed to 1,200 feet and were above the grey Atlantic that would be with them for the next 2,000 miles.

It is hard to imagine, used as we are today to comfortable, modern flight, the rigours of this journey, which included Brown risking his life to scrape ice off the wings and tail.

Within minutes, the news was flashed to Fleet Street, to Europe then to the rest of the world: Alcock and Brown had broken the record, to claim the cash prize and become legends of the air.

Forty years later, however, all this meant little to young Tony Alcock, who had grown up with tales of his great-uncle the pilot, but who had not realised the real significance of this illustrious relative.
Tony, aged 45, said: "It has only been as an adult that I've got more interested in the achievements of Alcock and Brown."

Through the internet, Tony, who works for Leigh's Paints in Bolton, has got in touch with other enthusiasts.
Next month, he will follow as Steve Fossett and co-pilot, Mark Rebholz, take off in their replica Vimy.
Tony said: "I'll be following it all via the net and, yes, I think I will be very proud."